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The Edmonton Heritage Festival decided to take matters into their own hands and cancel the Russian pavilion due to the threats and the additional security required. The unfortunate reality is that we as a society have allowed an inclusive festival to side with those who bullied the Russian heritage out of the festival when both tents should have been excluded.
Within 30 minutes of consumption, users will exit onto 81 Avenue where nearby there are daycares, seniors’ residences, stores, restaurants, and many homes. This great neighbourhood will then bear the resulting increase in crime and unavoidable decrease in public safety.
Community members appealed the approval. At the Subdivision Development Appeal Board (SDAB) meeting, the city justified their actions stating that this is a “health service.” I would suggest that based on the definition used for zoning that no reasonable person would conclude that it is meant to include a place to consume illegal street drugs.
In a related meeting last January, prior to a vote, the mayor reminded councillors that citizens will have the right to have drug consumption site “health services” in their communities as part of the “15-minute city” plan.
City bylaws already permit “health services” in Blatchford, Ambleside, Riverview, Clareview, Heritage Valley, and Marquis Mainstreet. They can also be approved as discretionary in many other communities.
Scona Concerned Citizens supports helping people with addiction. But we do not believe that in helping, you should destroy existing vibrant neighbourhoods, jeopardize public safety, or put others in the community at risk of increased crime. We care. And we hope you care, too.
After all, based on recent city approvals, a street drug consumption site might soon be coming to your neighbourhood. The SDAB decision is imminent. We hope the SDAB agrees with our concerns and denies the “health services” permit.
Rob Bligh, SconaConcernedCitizens.com
Banning Russian pavilion is unjust
The Edmonton Heritage Festival decided to take matters into their own hands and cancel the Russian pavilion due to the threats and the additional security required. The unfortunate reality is that we as a society have allowed an inclusive festival to side with those who bullied the Russian heritage out of the festival when both tents should have been excluded.
By allowing this to happen, we are accusing fellow Canadian citizens of the same crimes as those who ordered the march into Ukraine to start with. These aren’t soldiers on a battlefield and this festival is not about international war crimes; it’s about being proud of who you are and sharing the experiences of your cultures with others.
Hopefully, the city and province can assist the Heritage Festival by educating them on discrimination and bullying — both of which are not allowed. Both tents should be kicked out or the festival should be cancelled. Allowing one and not the other in a two-sided argument is unjust and raises concerns about the injustices that innocent Canadian/Russian citizens are likely already facing.
T.A. Zinger, Edmonton
